Humboldt State students enjoy an extraordinary college experience, taking small classes taught by professors who know them by name. They live and learn in one of the world's most beautiful places—near ancient redwood forests, mountains, and beaches. We are located 275 miles north of San Francisco in the town of Arcata, which is recognized as one of the West's best college towns. Humboldt State is a public institution and part of the 23-campus California State University system. With full-time undergraduate tuition of just $7,194 annually, we're one of the best higher education values in the nation. We have just over 8,700 students and 570 faculty members. We offer a wide array of academic choices, with 48 majors and 12 graduate programs in 3 Colleges. Faculty members are among the top teachers and researchers in their fields. Programs in natural resources and sciences are nationally known, while visual and performing arts are also popular areas of study. Throughout the curriculum, students find a long-standing commitment to social and environmental responsibility. We were founded as a teacher's college in 1913. Over the last century, we have grown from an institution focused solely on teacher education to a fully accredited university with extensive research facilities. There have been plenty of name changes over the years: We have been called Humboldt State Normal School, Humboldt State Teacher's College, Humboldt State College, CSU Humboldt and, since 1974, Humboldt State University. Our students have plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning with professors engaged in research and community service. The Coral Sea, for example, is an oceangoing vessel used primarily for undergraduate research. Students can study with the world's foremost expert on redwood trees and with leading experts in sustainable energy systems. In our cutting-edge Fire Lab, students study the properties of forest fires, and in the Schatz Energy Research Center student engineers are working on real-world issues like bringing sustainable lighting to the developing world. Students create their own theatre productions, study the mechanics of walking in the Human Performance Lab, work with young children in the Child Development Lab and more. Possibilities abound for real-world research experience available to undergraduates—something few other universities can boast. Outside the classroom, our students enjoy a rich campus life. They are involved in more than 180 campus clubs and have access to a state-of-the-art recreational facility. Each year, CenterArts brings nationally recognized performers and speakers to campus, and we have 12 NCAA Division II athletic teams.
Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission Humboldt State University is a comprehensive, residential campus of the California State University. We welcome students from California and the world to our campus. We offer them access to affordable, high-quality education that is responsive to the needs of a fast-changing world. We serve them by providing a wide array of programs and activities that promote understanding of social, economic and environmental issues. We help individuals prepare to be responsible members of diverse societies. Vision Humboldt State University will be the campus of choice for individuals who seek above all else to improve the human condition and our environment.
- We will be the premier center for the interdisciplinary study of the environment and its natural resources.
- We will be a regional center for the arts.
- We will be renowned for social and environmental responsibility and action.
- We believe the key to our common future will be the individual citizen who acts in good conscience and engages in informed action.
- We will commit to increasing our diversity of people and perspectives.
- We will be exemplary partners with our communities, including tribal nations.
- We will be stewards of learning to make a positive difference.
Values Humboldt State University values the following academic principles that represent attributes of an academically integrated university, and provide a framework for accomplishing our collective vision and mission.
- We believe our primary responsibility is to provide the best possible education for today’s world.
- We believe that teaching excellence is of paramount importance as is learning excellence.
- We believe in an environment of free inquiry where learning occurs both inside and outside the classroom. As a community of learning, the campus curricular and co-curricular environment encourages intellectual discourse, aesthetic creativity and appreciation, and significant opportunities for involvement and service. We prepare students to take on the commitments of critical inquiry, social responsibility and civic engagement necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
- We believe in intellectual growth through scholarship, creative activities, and research. We prepare individuals to be successful in advanced academic and professional degree programs; to be in positions of leadership, and to be proactive and productive members of society.
- We believe in the dignity of all individuals, in fair and equitable treatment, and in equal opportunity. We value the richness and interplay of differences. We value the inclusiveness of diversity, and we respect alternative paradigms of thought.
- We believe in collegial dialogue and debate that leads to participatory decision- making within our community of student, staff, administrator, and faculty learners.
- We believe the University must assist in developing the abilities of individuals to take initiative and to collaborate in matters resulting in responsible action.
- We believe individuals must be environmental, economically and socially responsible in the quest for viable and sustainable communities.
- We believe our location is an ecologically and spiritually rich asset that we embrace as an integral part of our learning community. Our curriculum is relevant, collaborative and responsive to our geographical location.
- We believe we have a special opportunity to learn from the Native American cultures, the unique ecosystem and special communities of our region, and to apply that knowledge.
- We believe the University is an integral part of our local and regional communities.
- We believe the University is a repository for archiving accumulated knowledge with inclusive access for our academic and broader communities.